the new name for the Ulster Cancer Foundation Issue Two: Autumn 2012 FOCUS ON SECTION FOCUS ON SECTION CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S FOREWORD Think Pink! We are urging everyone to Think Pink! during October, breast cancer awareness month. The month long campaign continues to raise awareness of breast cancer and its signs and symptoms, while raising much needed funds to help local women with breast cancer. Welcome to Focus On, our quarterly newsletter. We’ve had Beauty Advice for a very exciting few months changing from the Ulster Cancer Foundation to Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. Cancer Patients To mark our name change we have extended our LivingWell programme In October we will launch a new booklet Pink events services for cancer patients and their families that we provide on a one-to-one ‘Look Well to Feel your Best’ which We will be holding a number of ladies or group basis. We are working in partnership with Lilac (Life Is for Living offers beauty advice for cancer nights in October in Limavady After Cancer), a local cancer charity basedNorthern in Coalisland and BankCookstown. patients to help them feel good within (5th October at the Classic Restaurant At Lilac premises we are providing a regularFundraising support group for cancer Frenzy themselves, be more self confident and Wine Bar), Strabane, Omagh, patients, our free Beauty for Life service and our specialist bra and and boost energy levels. Garvagh, Clogher, Enniskillen, swimwear fitting service for women who have had breast surgery. Coleraine, Brookeborough and many The booklet is part of our Beauty for more! For more information contact We will also be extending our fitting service to Care for Cancer based at 1 Life service, in association with Clarins, Sylvia on 07789 757165 or email Campsie Place, Omagh (please call 028 8224 6599 to make an appointment). and it provides simple practical tips on [email protected] Local people in the mid-Ulster area can now access these free services on looking after your skin, nails and hair their doorstep. during and after treatment. We will be holding a ‘Take Me Out’ with a twist - Ladies Night Out! on We’ve introduced a new Art Journaling service and we’ve expanded our To order a copy or if you would like to Our services, which are provided free include the ‘Travel Show’ on BBC2, 26th October at The Stormont Hotel, Walking for Life service to the L’Derry and Strabane areas. Our new Sing book an appointment for Beauty for of charge, are a lifeline to local people the consumer programme, ‘4 What Belfast. Doors open at 7.30pm with for Life service will start on 17th September - a choir run in partnership Life, where you can have a one to one but we need your support to help us It’s Worth’ on Channel 4 and ‘The show starting at 8pm. Ticket Price with the Crescent Arts Centre in Belfast. consultation on make-up and skin care raise the necessary funds to continue Afternoon Show’ on BBC 1. Tickets £10. Entertainment, then dance the in a relaxed and informal environment, providing them. cost £40 per person and include a pink night away to ‘D!va Dolls’. Contact Under our KeepingWell banner we have launched a new education please contact Toby Wheeler, Care champagne reception followed by a Rosie Hassin on 028 9068 0759 or programme ‘Well Aware’ aimed at older people in supported living, Services Secretary on 028 90680751 You can support us in a number two course meal, spot prizes and your email [email protected] residential care and nursing homes or older people who are living or [email protected] of ways: chance to win amazing goodies in the independently. Our Education Minister John O’Dowd helped us launch grand raffle. To purchase tickets please For more information on a Strabane our Schools Health Education Package to encourage children to make Our Beauty for Life Service is provided The Think Pink! luncheon, which will email kirstythompson@cancerfocusni. Ladies Golf Tournament to be held on healthy choices from an early age. by our friendly in-house Beauty be held at Belfast’s Europa Hotel on org or call 028 9068 0771. 25th September please contact Gareth Consultant Fiona Barr. Friday 19th October at 12 noon, is McElduff on 07585 956830 or email We continue to invest in ground-breaking research and this year we the flagship fundraiser for our breast Think Pink! boxes with sparkly lapel [email protected] will appoint a Cancer Focus post-doctoral fellow at Queen’s University, cancer awareness campaign. badges, combs and nail files will be Belfast, helping keep intellectual talent here in Northern Ireland. available in outlets during October. If you would like to hold a Think Pink! Successful author and broadcaster You can order a box to position in fundraising event to raise funds for us Once again, a big thank you for your continued dedication and support – Penny Junor (pictured above) is our your shop, workplace or community please contact our experienced it is greatly appreciated. special guest speaker. Best known for centre where supporters can fundraising team at fundraising@ her Royal writing and broadcasting, she purchase merchandise for a cancerfocusni.org or call 028 9066 Roisin Foster is also an accomplished biographer minimum £1 donation. Contact 3281 who can supply merchandise, CHIEF EXECUTIVE recently collaborating with Patti Boyd [email protected] expertise, guidance and support. and Sir Cliff Richard. Her TV credits or call 028 9066 3281. PAGE 2 CANCER FOCUS NORTHERN IRELAND For information on our upcoming events log onto www.cancerfocusni.org PAGE 3 FOCUS ON ON SECTION SERVICES FOCUS ON ON SECTION SERVICES/RESEARCH New ‘Well Aware’ Project for Older People Food for Thought Research ‘Well Aware’ is a new project which will deliver key cancer We have launched a free Schools Health Education Package We promote and support internationally competitive, high information and prevention messages to older people to promote (SHEP) in a bid to tackle childhood obesity, sunburn and smoking quality research into the causes, a healthier lifestyle and encourage uptake of available screening. to reduce our children’s future risk of cancer and other serious treatment and prevention of cancer. health conditions. One of the major funders of cancer Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer ’Well Aware’ will encourage older research in Northern Ireland, we have Prevention, Cancer Focus, said people to go to their GP if they have The Schools Health Education Package to concentrate and focus in class, invested over £11m over the years. the project would also help raise any concerns. Health checks will be (SHEP) encourages children to make leading to improved educational This work helps identify the causes of awareness of signs and symptoms provided by a Cancer Focus nurse healthy choices from an early age. The outcomes and long term life chances.” cancer and points the way to improved of the disease. “Our research shows including cholesterol, blood pressure, key messages will cover a range of methods of diagnosis and treatment. that 26% of patients who died from glucose and height and weight, to relevant topics including healthy food The SHEP programme includes cancer in acute hospitals were older reassure older people or signpost choices, the importance of regular activities for nursery school children, Highlights include jointly funding the people who were only diagnosed on them to the relevant health profession. exercise, covering up in the sun to interactive storytelling about setting up of the Department of their first admission to hospital. It is prevent skin damage and highlighting Genevieve the Goat for P1 and Oncology at Queen’s University vital that we take steps now to help The ‘Well Aware’ project is funded the harmfuleffects of smoking while P2 focusing on healthy eating and Belfast; extending our investment in people reduce their risk and seek for five years by the Big Lottery developing the skills necessary to exercise, a Fit Factor challenge for innovative research at the University help when treatment can be Fund through the ‘Reaching Out – refuse that crucial first cigarette. P3 and P4, Sun Scientists for P5 and of Ulster; and funding and establishing more successful.” Connecting Older People’ programme’. Smokebusters for P6 and P7 pupils. the NI Cancer Registry which collates Education Minister John O’Dowd said, Schools are invited to sign up for the data on the incidence of cancer and the “I welcome any information that helps whole package or any one element outcomes for local patients. our children and young people make of the Programme by contacting In the Picture Dates for your Diary healthy food choices and realise the Clare Smith at Cancer Focus on We have just appointed a Cancer Focus importance of regular physical activity. 028 9068 0736 or email Northern Ireland Research Fellow, Dr. Exercise coupled with a healthy, [email protected] Kienan Savage, at Queen’s University, Living Well programme highlights during Autumn include: balanced diet aids children’s ability Belfast, for four years. • Writing for Life – 6 week creative writing group in Agnes Jones House, Dr.Savage has identified new cancer Altnagelvin Hospital, facilitated by local writer Madeline McCully, starting genes, which appear to be involved in 24th October. the development of breast and ovarian cancers and some forms of leukaemia. • Zest for Life – 6 week programme at Agnes Jones House, Altnagelvin These cancers often arise due to Hospital, starting 18th September; Braid Town Hall, Ballymena, starting damage to ‘gatekeeper genes’ that We’ve launched a new Art 26th September; Newtownards starting 28th September. Session also at control how often cells divide, allowing Journaling service for cancer Enniskillen on date to be confirmed.